According to one popular source, over 78% of all Americans believe in Jesus. The most popular book (by far) that the followers of Jesus use for their source of what it means to be a faithful Christian is the Bible. What the Bible says about important topics, like family life, have real meaning in this largely Christian nation. So what does the Bible have to say about divorce?

Matthew 5:31-32, “And it hath been said, whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a bill of divorce. But I say to you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, excepting for the cause of fornication, maketh her to commit adultery: and he that shall marry her that is put away, committeth adultery.”

The Jewish law permitted divorce. It was not something to be celebrated but it was nonetheless allowed. Men were free to marry, divorce, and marry again. Jesus teaches that divorce and remarriage is adultery.

Perverse minds who desire open relationships often point out the words about “excepting for the cause of fornication” — as if it is okay to divorce and remarry if your spouse is cheating on you. But that is not correct. It is simply that, in divorcing, the one partner is not causing the other to be an adulterer — they already are one. More important is the last line, “he that shall marry her that is put away, committeth adultery.” There is no escape clause, marriage with a previously married person is simply never permitted.

For the true Christian, marriage is for life. Divorce is a lie. Remarriage is adultery.